And that was before the coach benched his disgruntled and ineffective point guard for the final 6:31 of last night’s 95-86 loss to the Nuggets.

In the wake of the point guard publicly questioning his role Thursday, wanting more freedom to attack, Brown said at yesterday’s morning shootaround, “It’s after a loss. People say things. Realize, we’re a team. It ain’t about one person. If it’s about one person, I think you should run track.”

Indeed, Marbury’s request to be moved to shooting guard and be like Allen Iverson was oddly timed after just eight games. Brown also indicated Marbury is not in the same explosive-scoring class as Iverson.

“He told me from Day 1 he’d like to play like Allen Iverson,” Brown said. “I don’t think there’s many Allen Iversons out there. I think we can get him in positions off the ball, coming off screens. I don’t know if we have that kind of team. I do my best to accommodate guys, but this is about the team.”

Brown believes he has no other starting point guard. “We’re working to get Nate [Robinson] in position where he can play with Stephon,” Brown said. “But Nate’s not a natural point guard. We’re trying to get Jamal [Crawford], but he’s not a natural point guard. I’d love for [Stephon] to get 20 shots a game if there were 20 good shots.”

Isiah Thomas, in Hawaii for the Maui Classic, did not return a phone message seeking comment.

Two days ago in Los Angeles, Thomas said Marbury was not on the trading block. Ironically, Marbury’s words almost come off as someone who either wouldn’t mind being on the block or wants the Knicks president to make a trade for a point.

Brown and Marbury put up a unified front by walking into the arena side by side yesterday morning, with Marbury wearing a sheepish grin.

Yesterday, Marbury and Brown at least agreed from their meeting the guard needed to shoot more.

“The way how we play, I wouldn’t mind playing the 2-guard position,” Marbury said, confirming what Brown revealed Thursday. “But I understand we don’t have a point guard that [Brown] wants to play the point. I understand that. So that’s what I got to do to help the team win and I’m down for that.”

“I’m the point guard for the team. I’m not saying I don’t want to be the point guard of the team. I’m just saying I want to be put in position I’m able to help the team in more ways than one.”